Opinion, by Ricardo Arriagada, regional director of ProChile Los Lagos.

The recent 13th edition of Aquasur not only reaffirmed its position as one of the most relevant aquaculture fairs on a global level, but also highlighted the huge potential that the southern macrozone of Chile has as a productive development hub with international impact. 

As Regional Director of ProChile, I was able to see on the ground how this event, which brought together more than 550 exhibitors and exceeded 30,000 visitors, becomes a concrete platform for generating business, attracting investment and strengthening networks of collaboration between companies and institutions from different countries. 

With Aquasur we project to the world the image of modern, competitive and constantly evolving aquaculture, positioning ourselves as a relevant actor in global food security. An especially valuable aspect of this version was the clear will for international collaboration. Countries such as Norway and Denmark, global references in the field, along with Chile, are giving concrete signals of moving forward together towards a more modern. 

We are observing an industry that is incorporating new technologies decisively. Artificial intelligence and robotics are no longer a future promise, but concrete tools that are optimizing production processes. 

From the export sector, Aquasur plays a fundamental role. It facilitates a favorable environment for the generation of international business, both for seafood products, such as salmon, trout and mussels, as well as for industry suppliers, who have gained prominence and sophistication in recent years. 

The figures are telling. In the first two months of the year, shipments of salmon and trout reached US$ 1,405 million, representing 14.22% of the total exported by Chile (excluding copper and lithium), with a growth of 10.8% compared to the previous year, marking a historical record for this period. This is added to a more dynamic market diversification, with significant growth in destinations such as China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea and Poland. 

The challenge is our ability to project these results into the future. Aquasur shows us what we are able to do when we articulate public and private efforts, and when we bet on innovation. At ProChile, we commit ourselves to making our best effort to drive this challenge forward.